What is USTA Jr. Team Tennis?
Many children want to play tennis on teams. They love the opportunities team play offers for camaraderie, fitness, and friendly competition. The focus in this kind of play is on enjoying the exhilaration of exercise and refining the skills that make tennis fun at all ages and levels of competition. USTA Junior Team Tennis provides just such opportunities while emphasizing fun, fitness, and friends for player ages 6 to 18 of all skill levels. USTA Junior Team Tennis has grown at an average of over 46% per year since 1998 and has quickly become one of the fastest youth programs across the United States.
In Southeast Michigan, USTA Junior Team Tennis for youth is divided up into seasons. For 14 Adv., 18 Int., & 18 Adv. the Fall season begins in late October and the Winter season ends by the end of February, deliberately set in between the two high school tennis seasons. The 12 Int. & 14 Int. divisions have three seasons (Fall, Winter and Spring) beginning play at the end of October and finishing the Spring season in April. With over 4,000 participants annually, our district boasts the largest indoor USTA Junior Team Tennis League in the country. Almost all of our facilities within Southeastern Michigan participate. This is a team event, and teams are made up of six players (male and female). Matches take place almost every weekend, on either Saturday or Sunday (you do not have to play in every match). Match format consists of both singles and doubles play in a timed format. This is a travel league, so half of your team's matches take place at your "home" facility. Half away (at geographically close) facilities. Match cost for 2011 is $15, which includes food and beverage for the players (usually pizza and pop). We currently offer five age groups (8 & Under, 10 & Under, 12 & Under, 14 & Under and 18 & Under) with two levels per division (Intermediate and Advanced) and an extra beginner level in the 12 & Under Division. Not every facility offers every age group and level. Some facilities offer practices, some do not. Leagues use the Junior National Tennis Rating Program to place players in appropriate divisions. Teams are broken out into geographic flights, and flight winners have the opportunity to advance to our USTA District Championships (in March or April) where District Champions and FInalists are invited to advance on to Sectional Championships in Indianapolis in August. The USTA Sectional Champions from the 14 & Under and 18 & Under Divisions (both Intermediate and Advanced) have the opportunity to advance to the National Championships in October.
Since this is a national USTA program, a USTA Jr. Membership is required ($19/year) and a one time sign up charge of $10 for the team you join.
Players must be age eligible through August 31 of the championship year to play in an age division.SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN'S CURRENT JR. TEAM TENNIS PROGRAMS RUNS FROM END OF OCTOBER THRU FEBRUARY (18 Int., 18 Adv., 14 Adv.), WITH DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS IN EARLY MARCH.
THE 12 INT. & 14 INT. DIVISIONS RUN FROM END OF OCTOBER THRU EARLY APRIL, WITH DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MID-APRIL.
THE 8 & UNDER and 10 & UNDER DIVISIONS play at their home facility using the USTA 10 & UNDER TENNIS (QUICKSTART) FORMAT AND ARE INVITED TO TEAM INVITATIONALS ONCE A MONTH FROM NOVEMBER thru MARCH.
To join a team, contact one of our participating facilities or the District Office (734) 421-1025.